Who really should be on the all-time Suns team?

Shaquille O’Neal – C

PHOENIX – MARCH 15: Shaquille O’Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns cracks a smile during the game against the Sacramento Kings at U.S. Airways Center on March 15, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns won 127 -99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Granted, by the time he got to the Suns, Shaquille O’Neal was well past his prime. Although Suns fans will remember that his one full season in Phoenix was nothing to snoot at, and enough to make him an all-star, and the Suns’ all-time starting center. Now, if I would have put Amar’e Stoudemire here, moved Barkley to power forward and slipped Shawn Marion into the starting small forward spot, that would have been just as reasonable an all-time starting lineup.

Imagine even the Suns version of Shaq coming off of the bench?!

But the issue of players out of place that dogged the D’Antoni-led Suns would be just as prevalent, possibly negating the high-scoring that the offense would be guaranteed to produce.

I could have also put Alvan Adams in the starting center position (a player well deserving of a spot on the roster), although when playing against true-centers, including Shaquille O’Neal, his lack of size would have led to the opposition’s domination of the five. If nothing else, when the all-time Suns play the all-time Lakers, older Shaq will be better physically equipped to slow down…younger Shaq.